Then again one is apt to be taken in by mediums or even by spirits. Yes; but this only imposes the ordinary obligation of keeping one's eyes open. I know spiritualists who believe in every medium qua medium, and others who accept as unwritten gospel the idiotic utterances of a departed buccaneer or defunct clown: but these people are so purely exceptional as simply to prove a rule. Do _not_ accept as final in so-called spiritual what you would not accept in avowedly mundane matters. Keep your eyes open and your head cool, and you will not go far wrong. These are the simple rules that I have elaborated during my protracted study of the subject. "We do not believe, we know," was, as I said, the proud boast a spiritualist once made to me. And if the facts--any of the facts--of Spiritualism stand _as_ facts, there is no doubt that it would form the strongest possible counterpoise to the materialism of our age. It presses the method of materialism into its service, and meets the doubter on his own ground of demonstration--a low ground, perhaps, but a tremendously decisive one, the very one perhaps on which the Battle of Faith and Reason will have to be fought out. If--let us not forget that pregnant monosyllable--if the assumptions of Spiritualism be true, and that we can only ascertain by personal investigation, I believe the circumstance would be efficacious in bringing back much of the old meaning of the word [Greek: pistis] which was something more than the slipshod Faith standing as its modern equivalent. It would make it really the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Even if the dangers of Spiritualism were much greater than they are--aye, as great as the diabolical people themselves make out--I should still think (in the cautious words of the Dialecticians) Spiritualism was worth looking into, if only on the bare chance, however remote, of lighting on some such Philosophy as that so beautifully sketched by Mr. S. C. Hall in some of the concluding stanzas of his poem "Philosophy," with which I may fitly conclude-- And those we call "the dead" (who are not dead-- Death was their herald to Celestial Life)-- May soothe the aching heart and weary head In pain, in toil, in sorrow, and in strife. That is a part of every natural creed-- Instinctive teaching of another state: When manacles of earth are loosed and freed-- Which Science vainly strives to dissipate. In tortuous paths, with prompters blind, we trust One Guide--to lead us forth and set us free! Give us, Lord God! all merciful and just! The FAITH that is but Confidence in Thee! THE END. FOOTNOTES: [2] Alluded to above, p. 350.